In 2017, the sudden loss of a young relative forced me to confront my own mortality. Grieving and seeking purpose, I tried to take control of my health. I forced myself into long-distance running and obstacle mud runs, hoping to outrun my grief. While it built resilience, it never truly clicked; running was a vehicle to escape pain rather than something I enjoyed.

When lockdowns hit, coupled with the birth of my fifth child, an underlying back condition, unemployment and and a sudden heart-related health scare, I knew something had to shift. I needed a way of living that was sustainable, compassionate, and resilient to life's upheavals. Surrounding these physical challenges was emotional trauma, which led me to work with a therapist and adopt healthier coping mechanisms.

During this period of profound transition, I moved back to Birmingham and seized the opportunity to redirect my path. I completed my MA in Creative Writing and simultaneously retrained as a health coach and advanced personal trainer. Writing became a crucial lens through which I processed the human experience, while my health studies revealed a glaring gap: how rarely standard wellness approaches account for women’s specific physiology, trauma, or real-world stress.

Rather than pursuing restrictive quick fixes or obsessive routines, I focused on small, nourishing habits - improving sleep, upgrading family nutrition, and embracing joyful movement like kitchen dancing, wild swimming, and walking. By removing the pressure of rigid exercise regimes, true wellbeing took root.

Today, my work sits at the intersection of creative expression and sustainable wellbeing. As a qualified specialist in women’s health, GP exercise referral, and trauma-informed care, I design individualised, compassionate strategies for long-term health. I also collaborate on creative public health initiatives, using storytelling, writing, and community engagement to make health accessible, inclusive, and deeply human.

Live Yourself Better was created to help you move better, feel better, and live better - on your own terms.